Port positive as Westhoff contests suspension
Port Adelaide fancies its chances against the dominant Hawthorn outfit this weekend, despite the prospect of losing forward Justin Westhoff who copped a one week suspension from the Match Review Panel.
Port advised the AFL this morning it will contest the charge; the tribunal will convene at 5pm.
Based on the video evidence available and a medical report from the Essendon Football Club, the Match Review Panel assessed the half time incident as intentional conduct (three points), low impact (one point) and high contact (two points).
Westhoff, Adelaide’s Shaun McKernan, West Coast’s Patrick McGinnity and Giants midfielder Taylor Adams all face bans with McKernan lucky to have been given just two matches for his elbow to the head of Eagles midfielder Brad Sheppard.
Port’s vice-captain Brad Ebert said yesterday that the side’s form over the past three weeks shows it can beat anyone.
Port’s tough month – matched against Sydney, Collingwood, Essendon and Hawthorn – has tested how far they have advanced from their years at the bottom end of the ladder.
The beat Sydney Swans and Collingwood and the loss to Essendon was at their own hand, after missing nine shots on goal in the last quarter.
Ebert told afl.com.au yesterday its recent performances proved coach Ken Hinkley’s defence-first style meant the side could match any club, anywhere.
You might like
“This last month has reinforced that the way Kenny’s wanting us to play and the work we’ve been doing has been paying off, but yesterday was pretty disappointing,” Ebert said.
“When we saw this month coming up we were excited about the challenge.
“The last couple of weeks has shown that we’ve been able to match it with the teams the way we want to play.
“We’ve got to make sure we’re still backing the way that we play [against the Hawks].”
Over at West Lakes the Adelaide Crows are contemplating a tough away match against Collingwood on Friday night with recent form suggesting their finals aspirations might be spent.
The battered and bruised Crows have injury problems and an undisciplined suspension to deal with.
Midfielder Aidan Riley will miss the rest of the season after having surgery to repair a fractured fibula.
Shaun McKernan has taken a two-game ban for striking.
Bernie Vince (concussion) faces a fitness test during the week.
Crows defender Brodie Smith put on a brave face yesterday when he fonted the nmedia.
Stay informed, daily
“We’ve dropped to 12th, which makes it pretty tough but it’s still possible (to make finals), so we’ve got to be confident,” Smith said.
“We’re just looking forward to Friday night against Collingwood now. We’ve got to try to play some good footy for the rest of the year.”
The Match Review Panel’s assessment of round 15 action had some good news and bad news around the AFL clubs.
Brownlow Medal fancy Sam Mitchell and Greater Western Sydney forward Jeremy Cameron have avoided AFL match review panel ire.
Brisbane’s Dayne Zorko can escape with a reprimand with an early guilty plea.
Mitchell, who has been heavily backed to win the AFL’s most prestigious individual honour after Essendon skipper Jobe Watson’s weekend injury, was found to have no case to answer over a heavy hit on Geelong’s Joel Corey in Hawthorn’s 10-point loss at the weekend.
Corey was concussed in the incident.
Cameron also dodged sanction for a heavy collision with Western Bulldog Jason Johannisen which dislocated the defender’s AC joint and forced him from the field on a stretcher.
The panel says Cameron had no alternative open to him as he contested the ball with Johannisen.
“As the players came together, Cameron had his arms down in front of him in a bid to win the ball and makes forceful contact to Johannisen’s shoulder, while there is also a head clash,” the panel said.
“After viewing all available footage, it was the view of the panel that Cameron did not (have) a realistic alternative way to contest the ball.”
West Coast’s McGinnity was hardest hit by the panel, receiving a three-match ban for a sling tackle on Crows onballer Bernie Vince which cannot be reduced under a guilty plea.
Western Bulldogs star Adam Cooney has been charged with wrestling and can accept a $900 fine if he pleads guilty as it is his first offence.
Zorko was charged with a level two striking offence for an incident involving Gold Coast defender Tom Murphy.
But an early guilty plea will reduce his penalty to a reprimand and 93.75 points towards his future record.
